Centre Has Extended Free Ration Scheme For 5 Years: PM Modi In Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections 2023: PM Modi said on Saturday that the 80 crore poor people in the country will continue to receive free ration.

Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections 2023: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that the 80 crore poor people in the country will continue to receive free ration as the Centre has decided to extend the free ration scheme for the next five years. PM Modi was speaking at a rally in Durg in the poll-bound state of Chhattisgarh.

"This son of yours, who has seen poverty, who has come out of poor people, has decided. I want to tell the people of this country from the land of Durg that I have decided that the ration scheme which provides free ration to the 80 crore poor people will be extended for the next five years." 

During his address, PM Modi attacked Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel over the alleged 'Mahadev' betting app scam and said the Congress leader should tell what links he has with the accused in the case. This comes a day after the Enforcement Directorate claimed that a forensic analysis and a statement made by a 'cash courier' have led to "startling allegations" that Mahadev betting app promoters paid about Rs 508 crore to Chhattisgarh CM Baghel so far.

Accusing the grand old party of abusing him and the entire OBC community, PM Modi said he was not scared of abuses. "Congress government in Chhattisgarh has not spared any chance to loot you. They have not even spared the name of 'Mahadev'. Just two days ago, a major action was taken (by the Enforcement Directorate) in Raipur and a huge pile of cash was recovered. People are saying that this is the money belonging to 'sattebaj' (those involved in betting) and they have collected it by looting the poor and youth of Chhattisgarh. Congress leaders have been filling their houses with the same money," Modi said, as quoted by the news agency PTI.

Chhattisgarh will vote in two stages on November 7 and 17, with results expected on December 3. The first round of voting for 20 seats in Chhattisgarh will take place on November 7, with the remaining 70 seats in the state voting on November 17. The Model Code of Conduct has already been introduced in Chhattisgarh.